day : 23/09/2024 10 results

Summer success, fall/winter plans, city updates, more @ Admiral Neighborhood Association’s gathering

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

For the first time since May, the Admiral Neighborhood Association had a general gathering, with president Joanie Jacobs facilitating. Here’s what was discussed during last Tuesday’s meeting at Admiral Church:

AUTO THEFT DOWN & OTHER POLICE UPDATES: Officer German Barreto, the precinct’s community liaison, brought updates. Two crime categories have gone up in Admiral year to year – burglaries, aggravated assaults – and auto thefts are down. For shots-fired incidents, he mentioned the September 6 Alki shootout and an incident in the 2100 block of Harbor SW. One attendee asked for more context about the increase in aggravated assaults; Officer Barreto didn’t have specific incident info as to whether they were random or not. Another question was about the collision that injured a pedestrian at 42nd/Admiral; he had no updates on that. What’s behind the drop in auto theft? The increase was in no small part due to the Kia/Hyundai social-media-how-to trend, so the decrease seems to be because those models’ owners are figuring out how to thwart that, he said. What’s up with officer hiring? Barreto said, “I’m hearing we are getting people” but no specific stats. The nature of the work keeps evolving, he observed, and “about 90 percent is knowing how to talk to people.” How about the CARE responders? asked Jacobs. They’re supposed to go citywide at some point, Barreto noted. He also reminded people, regarding the other part of CARE, the 911 center – don’t EVER call the SPD non-emergency number. The 911 center operates differently now that it’s civilianized, he said, leading to “a problem” with police not getting dispatched to things they should be – “if there’s something that you see, and they try to send you to the non-emergency number, hang up and call back (on 911)” he said. And do call, it was stressed, to get everything on record. “And if you call 911 and don’t get the service you want to, email” to point that out. Also “be sure you get an event number or case number” when you call 911. Also, if you want to be contacted by an officer, you can ask for them to call you instead of coming to your door – though sometimes that might mean your phone rings a few hours later.

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ROAD WORK: This week’s Spokane Street Viaduct plan; Admiral Bridge update

Updates on two major ongoing road-work projects:

THIS WEEK’S SPOKANE STREET VIADUCT PLAN: The resurfacing project continues. No work tonight, Tuesday night, or Wednesday night, SDOT says. Then:

Thursday Night (September 26)

EB Left Lanes Closure – 7:00 pm to 6:00 am
1st Ave S Off-Ramp Open
4th Ave S Off-Ramp Open
Eastbound bridge to Northbound SR-99 Ramp Open

Friday Night to Monday Morning (September 27-30)

Eastbound Full Lanes Closure – 7:00 pm to 5:00 am
1st Ave S Off-Ramp Closed
4th Ave S Off-Ramp Closed
Eastbound bridge to Northbound SR-99 Ramp Open

As for last weekend’s confusion over the SSV’s status, SDOT says they’d confirmed with the contractor Friday afternoon that work was planned all weekend – but “The contractor wrapped up their work on the westbound lanes earlier than expected.” (So much earlier that readers reported all lanes open by 9 am Saturday.)

ADMIRAL WAY BRIDGE: The next stage of the seismic-strengthening project will switch both lanes of traffic to the north side of the bridge, and SDOT says that is expected “on the week of October 18,” exact changeover date to be set when it’s a lot closer. Fairmount Avenue beneath the bridge remains fully closed until the project is complete, likely early next year/

SCHOOL CLOSURES? District cancels community meetings, as superintendent says, ‘We are retooling our plans’

Tomorrow, Seattle Public Schools was supposed to start a round of community meetings, including one in West Seattle on Wednesday, to talk about the recently announced school-closure proposals – for which most School Board directors had harsh words last week, at a meeting preceded by an anti-closure protest. Late today, the district sent families a new announcement: The meetings are canceled, announced superintendent Dr. Brent Jones, saying, “We are retooling our plans …’ Here’s his message in its entirety (thanks to the parent who forwarded it):

I am taking more time to reflect on plans to bring a consolidation recommendation this October. As a result, I am canceling the upcoming community meetings. A new schedule of engagement sessions will be released soon.

I understand the closure of schools is a very serious topic. After receiving thoughtful feedback from many of you, it is clear we need more time to carefully consider our next steps.

I am working closely with my leadership team to revise our strategy and ensure any decisions we make are sustainable and prioritize the well-being of our students, staff, and families, working together to meet our goals.

We will soon provide new opportunities for community engagement, focused on gathering your ideas and working together to resolve our challenges.

I want to assure you we are taking your concerns seriously. What we proposed last week were initial approaches, which we are now reworking. While our financial challenges are real and it’s our fiscal responsibility to resolve them, it is very clear we need more time to listen and earn your trust as we resolve our structural deficit and revisit our timeline.

I am sorry our proposed options created anxiety for many families who rely on the key programs and innovations within our schools. We are retooling our plans to address these concerns.

It is no secret we are facing tough times. We face a budget deficit that has gone on far too long. Over the past seven years alone, our enrollment has dropped by 4,000 students. Despite this, we still operate nearly the same number of school buildings, and we don’t expect enrollment numbers to rebound for many years. Like many school districts in Washington, the funding we receive from the state has failed to keep up with the costs of providing a quality education to Seattle’s students.

This has been a challenging time, especially the last few weeks, and our school system’s issues will take all of us to solve–in our city and in our legislature.

We stand committed to working alongside you throughout this process. We appreciate your partnership as we strive for equitable and thoughtful solutions that will strengthen the future of our schools and students.

West Seattle/South Park school-board director Gina Topp had moved her community-conversation meeting on Wednesday so as not to conflict with the district meeting. We’re checking with her to see if she’s sticking with the revised time for her meeting, and if she has any other comment.

SALMON SEASON: Volunteers open the way for Fauntleroy Creek spawners

(Photos by Tom Trulin: Mark Sears [in yellow] led volunteers in relocating drift logs mired in vegetation near Fauntleroy Creek)
As noted here last week, it’s almost salmon-spawning season – and Fauntleroy Creek is ready for fish, thanks in part to some helping hands. Creek steward Judy Pickens sent this report:

How many volunteers does it take to ensure coho spawners can get into Fauntleroy Creek from saltwater? Eight got the job done on Saturday (September 21).

Pilings that support the ferry dock in Fauntleroy Cove trap drift logs, and vegetation can further impact the jam. State Fish and Wildlife permits the Fauntleroy Watershed Council to open a route for spawners when tidal action isn’t enough to clear the way. Mark Sears led the work party and will continue to monitor the area through spawning season.

The annual drumming on Sunday, October 13, to call in spawners (details here) will launch this year’s salmon watch, which will run until mid-November. Last year, watchers recorded a healthy crop of 34 coho spawners; since 1994, the count has ranged from 0 to 274. If/when watchers start to see spawners, West Seattle Blog will announce a weekend open creek for anyone to come have a look.

No drive-up/ride-up mailboxes in West Seattle right now. USPS says that’s temporary

(WSB photo, Westwood mailbox’s usual spot)

Thanks to the reader who tipped us that the Westwood Village Post Office‘s drive-up/ride-up mailbox is gone again. Since the Junction Post Office has been without its drive-up/ride-up mailbox for 10 months, that means right now – with another mail-in election approaching – West Seattle is without this type of mailbox. We asked USPS‘s regional spokesperson Kim Frum what happened to the WWV box and whether the Junction box is ever coming back. First, she said, “The box at the Westwood Post Office was removed for repairs. As soon as the box is fixed it will be reinstalled. Our maintenance team estimates it should be no more than a week until it is back in place.” (What kind of repairs, she didn’t say, but we’re asking on followup.) Regarding the Junction box, gone since it was stolen last November: “The box at the West Seattle Post Office had a replacement ordered, however, it was the wrong design. A new box was requested, and the office is currently waiting for it to arrive from the manufacturer. Once the box is delivered, maintenance will install the lock, the sticker with posted collection times, and replace it at its location at the West Seattle office as soon as possible.” Both drive-up/ride-up mailboxes had somewhat decreased in utility since they were replaced earlier in 2023 with smaller mailboxes that were described at the time as more secure.

BIZNOTE: You’re busy. You’re hungry. Dream Dinners invites you to Test Kitchen Party to see how they can save you time

It’s fall, and everything has revved way up (if it ever slowed down in the first place). Figuring out “what’s for dinner?” is a challenge. Dream Dinners West Seattle (longtime WSB sponsor) has solutions. You can see for yourself by reserving a spot at their Test Kitchen Party this Saturday – here’s the announcement:

Join us for our Fall Test Kitchen Party.

Try a sample of our new fall recipes, share your feedback, get a free gift, and win fun prizes! Plus, we will have exclusive event offers you won’t want to miss.

DATE: September 28th
TIME: 11 AM – 1 PM
LOCATION: 4701 41st Ave SW, ste 110 [east side of outer Jefferson Square]
BRING A FRIEND: Get $10 off on your next order when you bring a guest who is new to Dream Dinners (offer must be used by 11/30/24).

RSVP by texting 206-938-5999

And for Dream Dinners’ customers both new and returning, some updates:

What’s New?

Only 3-dinner minimum
Delivery within 15 miles of West Seattle Store
No monthly subscriptions or fees
Convenient walk-in shopping from our freezer
Multiple pickup locations available
Get delivery to your neighborhood with just 5 friends!

New to Dream Dinners? Here’s how it works.

FOLLOWUP: Speed-cushion installation day on SW Trenton

More city work on SW Trenton by Westwood Village today. This time, it’s speed-cushion installation. We reported last month that SDOT planned to install four sets of speed cushions on Trenton between 25th and 29th, as part of the Safe Routes to School program (with the Chief Sealth International High School/Denny International Middle School campus a block north). Crews are working today, east to west; we happened onto them as they were finishing the easternmost cushions and moving westward.

Here’s what’s happening on fall’s first West Seattle Monday

(First sunrise of fall – Sunday morning photo by Jerry Simmons)

Here’s the highlight list from our WSB West Seattle Event Calendar happens weekly!

BABY STORY TIME: Bring little ones up to 2 years old to Southwest Library (9010 35th SW), noon-12:30 pm, for story time!

CITY COUNCIL BRIEFING MEETING: At 2 pm, councilmembers take turns discussing what’s ahead for the week. Here’s the agenda (which explains how to listen in – no comment period at these meetings).

FOOD TRUCK IN ARBOR HEIGHTS: Neighbors want you to know there’s a new location for the rotating weekly food-truck visit, 4000 block of SW 107th.

GET CRAFTY: 6-10 pm, Monday brings “Crafting and Creativity Night” at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW), info here.

HAVE FUN GETTING READY: 6:30 pm, Alice Kuder of Just In Case is leading another of her free Ready Freddie Prep Parties at Whisky West (6451 California SW) – RSVP here to be sure there’s room

D&D: Weekly D&D at 6:30 pm at Meeples Games (3727 California SW). All welcome, first-time players too.

COMEDY! Start your week with laughs during monthly comedy night at Otter on the Rocks (4210 SW Admiral Way), 7 pm. Our calendar listing includes the lineup and ticket link.

MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA! Three places to play as the week begins – 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander); 7 and 8 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at Three 9 Lounge (4505 39th SW); 7:30 pm with QuizFix at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW)

MEDITATION IN FAUNTLEROY: All are invited to free weekly Zen sitting/meditation in the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm-8:30 pm.

MEDITATION IN ALKI: The Alki Dharma Community also hosts Monday night meditation at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds), 7-8:30 pm.

MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: The Alley in back of Bonjour Vietnam is open – tonight you can listen to live music from The Westside Trio, 8 pm at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW), 21+, no cover.

SING! 9 pm start for Monday night karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW).

AT THE BEACH: As of tonight, Alki Beach Park is back to “regular” closing time, and beach-fire season is over.

If you have a West Seattle/White Center event to add to our calendar, please send the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

Remembering David W. Fuller, 1949-2024

Family and friends are remembering David Fuller, and sharing this remembrance with his community:

David William Fuller died September 10 at his home in West Seattle after a 24-year journey with Mantle Cell Lymphoma. He was 75. Fuller was an Assistant Vice President of Costco and Editor of The Costco Connection, Costco’s member publication, from 1989 to 2013.

A lifelong avid traveler with a limitless interest in history and a penchant for collecting books, magazines, and printed matter of all kinds, he was born May 31, 1949 in Jersey City, New Jersey to Bernard William and Julia Caveglia Fuller. The family moved to Delaware in 1951 and then to California in 1958. From 1958 to 1984, Fuller lived in Palo Alto, attending Henry Gunn High School and then Foothill Community College for two years, before spending two semesters on Chapman College’s World Campus Afloat (Semester at Sea). He sailed around the world twice, visiting and studying in 35 countries before finishing his formal education at the Chapman campus in Orange, California. Informal education continued throughout his life and was shared enthusiastically with all who knew him.

He returned to Palo Alto, where he worked as a reporter and then copy editor at the Palo Alto Times until 1978. That year, he left the paper to be part of the start-up team of Peninsula Magazine, a regional magazine covering the San Francisco Peninsula. In 1983 he joined the start-up team of Washington Magazine and moved to Washington state, living first in Kirkland for 16 years, then in West Seattle beginning in 2000.

When Washington Magazine was sold in 1989, he learned that Costco Wholesale, then a six-year-old company, was looking for a professional editor to run the monthly publication staff members had started. He began working there the morning after his 40th birthday and thus began a 24-year career with Costco. He was responsible for the editing of the magazine and also the design, production, circulation, advertising, and business operations of what eventually became an international network of five print magazines, their online versions, a series of 10 annual “The Costco Way” cookbooks, and an international photo contest for Costco members.

In 1996, he oversaw the transition of the publication from newsprint to an award-winning 8.5-million-copy glossy magazine. For 17 years he wrote the magazine’s monthly column, “From the Editor’s Desk,” which after his retirement in 2013 became a website called “fromtheeditorsdeck.” After retirement he also worked as an archivist for several clients, including Costco.

He continued his life-long exploration of the genealogy and history of his family and helped others with researching their family histories. He wrote and self-published two books, “All the Fullers,” about Fuller family history and the history of the families who married his ancestors, and “Smoother Pebbles,” a collection of his favorite quotations.

Travel remained a key part of his life and eventually he visited more than 50 countries during school, on business, and with his family. A highlight was a trip to Italy in 2019 with his children and grandchildren to mark his 70th birthday and introduce them to members of his family living there who he had discovered and met through his genealogy research.

He joined a boating club and for a few years he enjoyed boating around Seattle waterways with family and friends. Whether dancing at his daughters’ weddings or teaching chess to his grandchildren, or creating Summer Wonderland in his backyard, or witnessing endless escapades involving bikes and scooters, he found some of his greatest joys watching and helping his offspring and their offspring live their lives to the fullest. Fuller is survived by his wife of 48 years, Carlene Canton, their daughters Cameron Canton Fuller and Courtney Canton Fuller; sons-in-law Casey Doran and Graham Moore; and four grandchildren: Elliott William Fuller, Felix Russell Fuller, Henry William Moore, and Juliette Lillian Moore. All live in West Seattle. He also is survived by his sister Mary Fuller Heminger and her husband David Heminger, of Fremont, California; a cousin, Clorinda Hite of Santa Clara, California, and countless friends, colleagues and cohorts who shared in his pursuit of travel and joyful learning and living.

Please share memories of David at emmickfunerals.com/obituary/David-Fuller

Arrangements Entrusted to Emmick Family Funeral Home of West Seattle

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)

TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER, ROAD WORK: Monday notes, with Harbor Avenue crash

6:40 AM: Crash in the 2600 block of Harbor Avenue SW [vicinity map]. SFD reports driver hit a tree and had to be extricated from the vehicle; they’ll be taken to a hospital. Avoid the area for a while.

Earlier:

6:00 AM: Good morning. It’s the first weekday of fall, Monday, September 23. First day of fall quarter at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor), so expect more traffic on 16th SW.

WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

Today’s forecast: Becoming sunny, high in the low 70s. Today’s sunrise will be at 6:58 am, while sunset will be at 7:03 pm.

SPOKANE ST. VIADUCT, AND OTHER ROAD WORK OF NOTE

*The Spokane Street Viaduct resurfacing project has not announced this week’s work schedule yet; we should get an update by afternoon. Note, though, as evidenced last weekend, it’s subject to sudden change.

Other projects:

*For the Admiral Way Bridge seismic project, the north half of the bridge remains closed, with one lane each way on the south side, until the project switches sides next month; Fairmount Avenue remains closed under the bridge. We’re awaiting a project-status update

*The Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project also continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon.

TRANSIT

Metro buses todayRegular schedule.

Water Taxi todayRegular schedule.

Washington State Ferries today – 2 boats on the Triangle Route, plus the “unscheduled third boat,” now available on weekends too. Check for alerts here.

SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS

High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:

Low Bridge – Looking west:

Spokane Street Viaduct – This view usually looks westward, with eastbound lanes at left and westbound lanes at right:

1st Avenue South Bridge:

South Park Bridge – Looking east (this camera has been malfunctioning lately):

Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.

MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.

If you see a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water, please text or call our hotline (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!